Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-06-15
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ssAimpessd sruslsss m basbesoss nsthoda
WsstSss bcsn Ne course d NJ Dsmosrasie
party 4 re North vhils these sysa.a h.ss bscn
Sue now ~ honest man can dCubk, unless vii.
fully Ha6rant. No Democrat with : spark Of
msSaood who hates those methods can shield
tsdnself behind doubt or dIsbelicf.
And, follow citizens. this 10 mot . thing Of tho
past. 4 10 Q continuing fact. Il u . fact TO-
day. There - mot an Intelligent man In this
broad land. Of either party, who does not know
that Mr.. Cleveland Is now President OF the
United Statea by virtue Of
CRIMES AGAINST The ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
forgery and perjury, but for which James &
Blaine would now BIO in his place. There has
not bcon . moment since tho adoption Of tho
boen q fair election for President, : majority Of
the Constitutional voters OF ct loaat hye Of the
southern States would mot have voted for tho
Republican mine
The POISON II the succsss Of these methods
has already affected the election In como Of
the groat cttics u the North. especially in
Chicago and Cinctnnsti, where. under the
lead d Mackin and Tosney. the criminal
Glasses adopted some Of the mcanost OF
crimes to control elections. Why should they
not? II crime should he resortcl to by the
intimidate poor negroes In the South. why
should not white Democrats Of the North 10
permitted 70 resort to for ;ory and pcrjury to
peacefully change tho result OF an election in
the North3 Why discriminate ageinst Mackin
and Tosney by sending them to tho penitentiars
white fonding Democrats Of the South, by
means OF like offensos, to the Senats AMI the
House, and 70 represent the great Republic in
foreign courts?
But IL is said that tho Republican party was
In power whilo these crimes were committed
why did IL not prevent OF punish them? This
question should BIO fairly and frankly answered..
When, b. the defee ion of Andrew johnson,
The south was encouraged to commence tho
policy Of intimidation, the Republican par y
was utterly helpless to resist II. r was during
hts administration, and with the sympathy Of
THO Democratic party. that the massacre Of
violence in different 20 tions cf the i outh oc-
Cured, and especially the organization and
the cruel and brutal work Of tho kukIux Khan,
and other secret oath-bound associations took
place. IL was under the shadow 09
THEss TRAGIC EVENTS
that the election Of 1865 occurred. II WA TO dc.
feat Gen. Grant that the two wings q the Dem
oeratic party fiapped together, one led BY Boss
Tweed. Of New York, and his election fprgers
and dead boats, the other by the kuklux Klans.
In spite Of all this. howov,r. Gen. Grant wss
elected President OF the United states. II was
then the Republican party in Congress- proposed
the fifteenth amendment, which, IL was be-
lieved, would secure TO the colored men the
protection OF the ballot and tho power OF self
defonse. Tho result 10 ell known. This con
stitutionHl prOyifiOn was openly nuIlihed. Col
orcd men were deprived OF tho right TO vote in
counties, districts, and States where their vote
could change the result. II intimidation was
necessary IL was resorted to, even to the extent
OF murder. II cheating. or forged returns, or
tissue ballots, or n numerous boxes to deceive
and entrap the ignorant, or the destructioi of
tho boxes, or the refusal Of the Judges to serve
whatever trick or means were necessary to
defeat the right Of the Republican voter were
General Grant could. under the limitations of
the Constitution, see no remody 1t WAS pro-
posed BY the Republicans in Congress to pass q
bill, called the force hill, intenle oil to arm the
executive authorities with ample POWER to do
fend the colored people against these outra res.
l always thought that this bill should have
passed, but the strong fcclin Of repuynance
against such legislation in the North lei many
] aiding republicans to vote to delay, post one,
and finally to defeat it. But General Grant,
under existing law, did and prose-
cute with diligence and effect some Of the worst
cases, especially in Sotth CAROLYN, where the
organization and methods Of tho clans were
fully disclosed by Judicial testimony so cloar
noy for the defendants, said
!" have listened with unmixed horror to come
Of the testimony which has been brought be-
fore You. The outrages proved are shocking to
NEITHER EXCUSE NOR JusrrrIcArIoN:
they violated every obligation which law and
pa ties engaged were brutes. /. sensible TO the
obiigatiors OF humanity and religion
Some convictions wcra had AMI some punish
mont inf cted, but. upon the promise that this
= yttem OF terror and crime would not be re-
newell. the prisoners were in due time par-
doncd. This was not the end Of it. General
Grant was reelected. and soon after crimes and
violence wero renewed against Republicans.
both white and black, in all the cotton States.
In 1875 the House OF ltepreso nta.ives had b.
come Democratic, and in tho same year, what
Is known as the Mississippi plan was adopted,
and tho Republican sote OF that State was abso.
lutely suppressed. And ngain in tho Presidential
election OF 1876 the otfenses wore 80 revolt ng us
TO Justify the returning boards In several st ties,
under the laws Of those States, in excluding the
,otas OF d number OF counties, parishes and
districts
&...x a - A. 81 .-L.
sesa the power to pass any law for tho protec-
ticn OF lie or property in the South, and t'ls
Democratic party would not. 1t con be truly
said that every %atrocity, every political crime,
by Democrats, and tho Democratic party uni
form y refused to examine. prevent, or punish
In any case any Of these crimes.
party that while it has not been
able TO protect the colored people Of
the South in the enjoyment OF civil rights or
to guard them by military force from gross
wrong and oppression by tho dominant and
controlling physical force Of the South acting In
the name and in the interests OF the Demo
cratic party. yet that it has done all that it
could lawfully within the limits ind powers
given by the Constitution and the laws TO de-
fend all classes Of people
WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE,
condition, or creed. II IL has failed in any par
ticular 1t has been because it was prevented by
tho policy and power Of the Democratic party,
armed with State authority.
In this way, aud by crimes 80 atrocious, the
second rebellion of tho Democratic party 10 n
succesa. Hepublicanism has boon stamped out
"a the bou a. Organized and disciplined force,
Oh free discussion, and all remonstrance from
white Republicans, while the freedmen arc
held in baser subsection by the
..%s : and Of or sass sea 'y Inc the inn .aes OF
OF slavery. This condition OF affairs is
now hopefully changing. The time has come
when, in mhny Of the Southern States, and es
D0C1AllV in cnrnfkpQ Wharp a ulosnvsty nf fhu
population is white, these wrongs and o~utrages
can no longer he inflicted, and the time will
come when. oven in the black belt OF the South,
tho intelligence. education, and organization of
tn. people will enable them to Llaintain their
rights.
But tho are not utterly helpless. The power
70 migrate wherever injustice is uncomfortable
should DO exercised by every man who feels OPP
1t should DO organized by every com
niunity that Is wronged, encourage by all law
ful means. and this will, In my jud ment. be
the most potent agency in preventing injustice.
1t Is the same right that capital exercises for
Ms own protection it is the same right which
same right by which our fathers, Of every ma
ton In Europe. by NJ grating to this coun ny, Sc
cured
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY
for themselves and their posterity it is the
hrst and most powerful right Of freemen. more
potent than violence and more certain than
force.
One duty think tho Republican party has
mot yet performed, and that is that in States
whore IL is ascertained that free and orderly
elections for Senators and Representatives in
Congress can not DO lad, Congress should
assert and exercise its unquestioned rower
70 regulate the times, places, and manner Of
holding such elections. This power Ia as
clearly conferred upon Congress as the
power TO levy taxes OF make war, and, In my
Judgment. tho time has arrived when IL
should be fully and vigorously exercised. This
power has been asserted by the act OF 1895
providing for the election of Senators, and
no complaint has ever been made Of its con-
stitutionality or expediency. II has not been
exercised ~ to member OF the Hou5e of
Representatives, from the strong desire 70
avoid any interference with popular eiec-
tionS In the States but the existence Of the
power has been affirmed by the Supreme
Court OF tho United States In the case OK parte
Marlborough and others. decided ct the October
term, 1883, in which the court said
That . government whose essential charac-
tor 10 republican, whose executive head and
Legislative body are both elective, whose most
and powerful branch OF the LAgisla.
ture Is elected by the people directly, has NO
by appropriate avs to secure this cleo
fion from tho influence Of violence and corrup-
tton and OF fraud, ia . proposition so startling
- 70 attract attention and command gravcst
consideration. II this Government IL ANYTHING
more than q more aggregation OF delegated
agents OF other States and governments It must
have the mower to uYCtnct the aiectinra nm